WARSAW — Ivy Tech Community College State Board of Trustees member Marianne Glick and her spouse Mike Woods have committed $500,000 in matching funds across the state for Ivy Tech’s newly established COVID-19 relief fund to assist students.

The COVID-19 relief fund will provide increased flexibility to assist Ivy Tech Fort Wayne and Warsaw in meeting unforeseen challenges head-on the coming days. Each campus specifically has $20,000 in matching funds available. The fund will be entirely supported by unrestricted charitable gifts from the community and will be used to help meet the campus’s time-sensitive needs. Local matching funds must be secured by April 30 in order to benefit from the Glick gift.

“We wanted to do something to help Ivy Tech students at this challenging time,” said Glick and Woods. “We hope this gift will inspire others to open their hearts to enable our students to have access to the resources they need to stay in school and stay healthy.”

According to a press release from Ivy Tech, nearly 40 students from the Fort Wayne and Warsaw campuses have reached out and requested financial assistance since March 23.

“COVID-19 has put an unprecedented amount of pressure on our students and their families,” said Chris Cathcart, vice-chancellor for student success. “The college’s student emergency funding combined with the matching gifts of our donors has allowed us to provide the support our students desperately need. By providing these funds Ivy Tech is fulfilling its commitment to the community and ensuring that students have some relief as they navigate our changing ecosystem.”

Ivy Tech’s President Sue Ellspermann announced that all campus buildings have been closed and over 70,000 students, faculty and staff will operate in an online instructional virtual environment.

“As always, our top priority is to safeguard the health and well-being of our students,” said Ellspermann. “Many of our students already faced challenges including juggling work, family and school, food insecurity, childcare needs, and even housing uncertainty. We are incredibly humbled and grateful for Marianne and Mike, and their pledge of $500,000 in matching funds across the state. This makes it possible for us to truly help our students who need it now more than ever.”

“Their commitment to Ivy Tech student success is unwavering and their philanthropic hearts are truly full of passion for the betterment of tomorrow,” said John M. Murphy, Ivy Tech Foundation president. “We are very appreciative of Marianne and Mike stepping up and providing such a tremendous match to our campuses to meet unforeseen challenges head-on in the coming days.”